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D.C. Trip
Author and comedienne Sara Benincasa takes a bold, fearless and irreverent look at the classic high school trip to Washington DC.
Alicia Deats is a new teacher chaperoning her very first high school trip to Washington DC, and nothing could be more terrifying than a class full of horny, backstabbing, boundary-pushing teenagers under her watch. To make matters worse, she embarrassed herself with her co-chaperone Bryan Kenner with one too many margaritas and an ill-placed vomiting incident at last year’s teacher mixer and is hoping this trip can be a fresh start for them. Alicia believes in positive reinforcement and trust to keep her students out of trouble, but best friend high school sophomores Gertie, Sivan, and Rachel have a different idea: they plan to take full advantage of the un-parented freedom that a trip to DC offers. DC TRIP by novelist-comedian Sara Benincasa is an honest and irreverent journey of sexual confusion, bar shots, drag queens, and pot cookies in the Rose Garden.
Alicia Deats is a new teacher chaperoning her very first high school trip to Washington DC, and nothing could be more terrifying than a class full of horny, backstabbing, boundary-pushing teenagers under her watch. To make matters worse, she embarrassed herself with her co-chaperone Bryan Kenner with one too many margaritas and an ill-placed vomiting incident at last year’s teacher mixer and is hoping this trip can be a fresh start for them. Alicia believes in positive reinforcement and trust to keep her students out of trouble, but best friend high school sophomores Gertie, Sivan, and Rachel have a different idea: they plan to take full advantage of the un-parented freedom that a trip to DC offers. DC TRIP by novelist-comedian Sara Benincasa is an honest and irreverent journey of sexual confusion, bar shots, drag queens, and pot cookies in the Rose Garden.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
27 people are currently reading
1653 people want to read
About the author
Sara Benincasa
8 books417 followersSara Benincasa is an author, actor, and TV writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
August 13, 2018
I really really loved this book! 4.5 stars. Full review to come on my YouTube channel very soon! I was in tears of laughter while reading this book, the humor is off the charts. It's definitely extremely raunchy and profound, so if you're easily offended by things like sex, drugs, alcohol, the LGBTQA+ community or anything generally straying from the norm, you'll totally hate it. But if you're like me and love reading diverse books with controversial topics, I highly highly recommend it! I can't think of many negative things to say, but I'm thoroughly impressed with this book and had a great time reading it. DC Trip comes out November 3rd and be sure to check out my full, spoiler free review coming soon after!!
I received a free copy of this book from Adaptive Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from Adaptive Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 1, 2016
Imagine if the Bridesmaids were teenagers and on a school trip to Washington DC. Or if Greg and Earl from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl were girls. It's as awesome and crazy as that sounds. This book felt almost British or Australian to me because the teen girls openly talked about and/or engaged in sex, drugs (pot), rock 'n roll etc. And that wasn't the issue. That just was.
It's also about a 23 year old newly minted high school teacher who volunteers to chaperone the DC trip so she can reconnect with the other chaperone, Mr. Kenner, after an awwwwwwkward encounter. She threw up on his penis while they were making out.
This was just a fun, fast read and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. It's the perfect summer read. If revenge diarrhea isn't your thing though, you may want to skip this. Otherwise, grab a popsicle and strap in. You're in for a ride.
It's also about a 23 year old newly minted high school teacher who volunteers to chaperone the DC trip so she can reconnect with the other chaperone, Mr. Kenner, after an awwwwwwkward encounter. She threw up on his penis while they were making out.
This was just a fun, fast read and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. It's the perfect summer read. If revenge diarrhea isn't your thing though, you may want to skip this. Otherwise, grab a popsicle and strap in. You're in for a ride.
January 18, 2016
This book is SO FUN. I read it in one day. Enjoy!
August 25, 2019
Five stars! This novel takes place over a three-day high school trip to Washington DC. Chapters alternate between the perspective of a teacher chaperone, and a trio of female BFFs under her care. This is not classified as a YA novel and for good reason (what student even wants to imagine two of their teachers having sex?) but the teenage behavior and dialogue is some of the best I've ever read.
Before I had my first boyfriend (now husband!) at age 25, all of my love was unrequited. I didn't date in high school or college. It was frustrating and lonely. But while I hoped and waited, I loved so hard from afar! And this gem of a book has this perfect conversation that resonates so deeply with my experience:
***
"Hey, Gertie?" Sivan finally asked, breaking the quiet.
"Yeah, Sivan?"
"What's so special about Danny Bryan, anyway?"
Gertie was quiet for a moment.
"When I look at him, I feel infinite," she said.
"Wow," Sivan said. "That's kind of beautiful."
"I don't get it," Rachel said. "Like your feelings for him are infinite?"
"Kind of," Gertie said. "It's more like the feeling I have for him, the attraction or whatever, is so strong that I feel I could power the sun or something, but forever, like it's a resource that will never run out."
"Like a renewable energy source," Sivan said. "Wind power. That kind of thing."
"Um, sure," Gertie said. "I guess. Danny Bryan is smart and handsome and funny and amazing and the idea of even being near him makes me feel like I could be happy without anything else, without us dating or having sex or getting married and having kids or anything like that. Like I could exist peacefully and joyfully just sitting near him, forever."
Before I had my first boyfriend (now husband!) at age 25, all of my love was unrequited. I didn't date in high school or college. It was frustrating and lonely. But while I hoped and waited, I loved so hard from afar! And this gem of a book has this perfect conversation that resonates so deeply with my experience:
***
"Hey, Gertie?" Sivan finally asked, breaking the quiet.
"Yeah, Sivan?"
"What's so special about Danny Bryan, anyway?"
Gertie was quiet for a moment.
"When I look at him, I feel infinite," she said.
"Wow," Sivan said. "That's kind of beautiful."
"I don't get it," Rachel said. "Like your feelings for him are infinite?"
"Kind of," Gertie said. "It's more like the feeling I have for him, the attraction or whatever, is so strong that I feel I could power the sun or something, but forever, like it's a resource that will never run out."
"Like a renewable energy source," Sivan said. "Wind power. That kind of thing."
"Um, sure," Gertie said. "I guess. Danny Bryan is smart and handsome and funny and amazing and the idea of even being near him makes me feel like I could be happy without anything else, without us dating or having sex or getting married and having kids or anything like that. Like I could exist peacefully and joyfully just sitting near him, forever."
Read
November 23, 2015I’ve never been someone who thinks they’d make a good high school teacher. And after reading DC Trip, I’m double-extra sure. But I’m also double-extra thrilled to have read this book, which follows a new teacher as she takes her class on a field trip to Washington, DC. The characters are charming (the teenagers are obnoxious/mischievous/marvelous, the teacher is delightfully hapless), and Benincasa has crafted the narrative with a ton of verve and care. Ultimately, DC Trip is extraordinarily fun–silly and hilarious–while, at the same time, really thoughtful and emotionally rich. It’s quite a feat, and you should give it a try—whether you’re a wannabe high school teacher or not. — Derek Attig
from The Best Books We Read In October: http://bookriot.com/2015/11/02/riot-r...
from The Best Books We Read In October: http://bookriot.com/2015/11/02/riot-r...
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November 6, 2015This was short, fun, and hilarious. I thought it was YA when I downloaded the ARC from Edelweiss, but I'm assuming it's straight-up contemporary, given the teacher had a POV for half the book, plus some language you don't really see in YA. Also had some stuff it was really nice to see, like a Jewish character who didn't totally feel like a token and actually got to talk about being Jewish for more than the words "bat mitzvah money," and visits to DC landmarks. Did it feel realistic? Not really. Did I care? Nah. If a book makes me laugh out loud as much as this one did, I'm set.
July 11, 2017
This book was not good, just really badly written. I bought it as a fun beach read, but I was literally rolling my eyes at some points. Interesting concept, bad execution.
November 4, 2015
I initially picked this up because I was hopeful of reading a story set in DC and seeing how the author represented locations and landmarks that I see every day.
Unfortunately, the scope of the story limited this to a few museums and the White House; and the underlying story was a little too unbelievable and corny for me. The situations that the kids in the story get into are far beyond reality to the point that this book could probably be shelved in the "fantasy" section. The closest analogy I can come up with is that this is "The Hangover" for the CW crowd. I know I run the risk of coming off as a "you kids get off my lawn!" fossil by saying that kids in my day were never this rowdy, but this story truly passes the realm of believable. Every adult in their world seemed enabling to the point of negligent.
In the end, I give two stars because it wasn't wholly unreadable. I did finish the entire book and luckily it was a quick read, but beyond a mid-teen audience, I don't really recommend this to many.
[Review from an advance copy provided by Edelweiss]
Unfortunately, the scope of the story limited this to a few museums and the White House; and the underlying story was a little too unbelievable and corny for me. The situations that the kids in the story get into are far beyond reality to the point that this book could probably be shelved in the "fantasy" section. The closest analogy I can come up with is that this is "The Hangover" for the CW crowd. I know I run the risk of coming off as a "you kids get off my lawn!" fossil by saying that kids in my day were never this rowdy, but this story truly passes the realm of believable. Every adult in their world seemed enabling to the point of negligent.
In the end, I give two stars because it wasn't wholly unreadable. I did finish the entire book and luckily it was a quick read, but beyond a mid-teen audience, I don't really recommend this to many.
[Review from an advance copy provided by Edelweiss]
November 17, 2018
DC Trip ended up being fucking funny as hell and a far more accurate depiction of high school than most books I’ve read.
It follows a hippie teacher chaperone, Alicia, as she fights to woo a nerdy math teacher Bryan. The rest is focused on three high school girls who get into all kinds of shenanigans involving drugs, sneaking out, drinking, and drag queens. My DC trip (in 8th grade) wasn’t anything like theirs, but it’s a time of great memories that I look back on fondly.
For Sivan, Gertie and Rachel it’s a ton of weird scenarios (including meeting the president whom I choose to believe is Obama) that couldn’t have ended up any better for them. Suffice to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the book and I definitely enjoyed all the weird tomfoolery.
It follows a hippie teacher chaperone, Alicia, as she fights to woo a nerdy math teacher Bryan. The rest is focused on three high school girls who get into all kinds of shenanigans involving drugs, sneaking out, drinking, and drag queens. My DC trip (in 8th grade) wasn’t anything like theirs, but it’s a time of great memories that I look back on fondly.
For Sivan, Gertie and Rachel it’s a ton of weird scenarios (including meeting the president whom I choose to believe is Obama) that couldn’t have ended up any better for them. Suffice to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the book and I definitely enjoyed all the weird tomfoolery.
August 15, 2019
4.5 a little dumb but a fast read for a beach or a plane ride
January 24, 2016
I read Great by S. Benincasa and I had to read her latest to make sure she wasn't just a one-hit wonder. Fortunately for me, she doesn't seem so as this book was as good as the first without having to follow any kind of formula to ensure its likeability. I genuinely enjoyed this book for its comedy and the good-hearted nature of most of its characters. You do have to have villains of course. They help the reader like the good characters even more. This is the story of two high school teachers that volunteer to chaperone the 10th grade trip to Washington DC. Among the travelers are three girls, best friends, who plan on making this trip one they won't soon forget. There is drinking involved and some pot-smoking but Benincasa does not add it gratuitously to shock the reader. Actually, I was a teenager once, and her account seems to me as the parent of a two teenagers myself very realistic so it did not in the least bother me or prevent me from recommending it to my own teenagers to read. No need to pretend you are parent of the year for this one. Kids drink and do drugs at time. Hopefully those are experiences you have prepared them for and taught them to be prudent about. But enough about that... It really is irrelevant to how good the book is. I laughed so much while reading this book as the dialog was witty and sincerely funny. There is a good lesson in the end and the happy ending we all look forward to without it being too predictable.
I've read two of her three books now and I've got her third book on my nightstand on the queue to be read. Can't wait!!!
I've read two of her three books now and I've got her third book on my nightstand on the queue to be read. Can't wait!!!
August 12, 2018
I have a thing about finishing books but I just couldn’t get through this one. As someone that works in Flemington, so many little inaccuracies just seemed lazy: there is, and as far back as public memory, has never been a Flemington High School. The Chili’s in a specific scene is real which is why the students excitement over OMG Thursday’s - which we can all agree is a TGI Friday’s without the copyright infringement - doesn’t make any sense. And it’s “close to the highway exit” according to the book despite the fact that it, like Chili’s, is literally on the highway. This book was printed in 2015 so a Google search is a completely reasonable request.
The writing philosophy “show, don’t tell” does not apply here. It read like the last few pages of an essay that had to meet a word count.
The writing philosophy “show, don’t tell” does not apply here. It read like the last few pages of an essay that had to meet a word count.
November 5, 2015
If you like Mindy Kaling or Tina Fey you are going to LOVE Sara Benincasa. She's hilarious and down to earth, and, at times, surprisingly tender. This book will appeal to anyone who remembers high school with a certain degree of discomfort (which is just about everyone who grew up to be interesting.)
might-read
August 20, 2016I had never heard of this author but her response to a comment about her weight makes me want to read all of her books.
March 12, 2016
A very humorous, page-turning read. It's a realistic look at adolescence, paired with a more three-dimensional look at what a teacher is like. Can't wait for the movie!
November 11, 2015
Raunchy hilarious and sweet on basically every page, and totally celebratory about all of that. A fast and really funny read!
Read
June 4, 2016Yay...too young adult for my tastes.
January 31, 2022
This was on the $3 cart at B&N and the cover was cool, so I figured I would give it a shot. Now, I'm mad that I even spent $3 on it. Ah, well.
June 1, 2025
so so funny and juicy! i rlly hope my school's dc trip isn't anything like this one :)
March 6, 2019
What even is this book??? Is it plausible/believable? Absolutely not. Are there great characters and an interesting plot? No. Are there any serious underlying themes? Nope! And is the prose even average? Not really.
Then how is it so good??
This is one of the best comedy books I've read. I finished it in two settings, but it would've been one if I hadn't have had to go to work. It's just so utterly ridiculous, and it avoids the two major pitfalls that drag down so many other ridiculous books/movies etc - 1) taking itself seriously, like, at all, 2) An unfunny/sappy third act where the comedy takes a back seat to the characters/plot. This book hits the highway at 100mph in chapter 1 and never slows down til the very very end.
The comedy isn't for everyone. It's neither clever nor subtle. It's raunchy, over the top and unrelentingly, unabashedly in your face. If that sounds like fun to you, then I definitely recommend this book! Be warned though, despite the giant text size this is not really a YA book. I'd read a chapter or two sample before getting it for a teen. Fellow 20 somethings, read this book and laugh your ass off and feel no shame!
Then how is it so good??
This is one of the best comedy books I've read. I finished it in two settings, but it would've been one if I hadn't have had to go to work. It's just so utterly ridiculous, and it avoids the two major pitfalls that drag down so many other ridiculous books/movies etc - 1) taking itself seriously, like, at all, 2) An unfunny/sappy third act where the comedy takes a back seat to the characters/plot. This book hits the highway at 100mph in chapter 1 and never slows down til the very very end.
The comedy isn't for everyone. It's neither clever nor subtle. It's raunchy, over the top and unrelentingly, unabashedly in your face. If that sounds like fun to you, then I definitely recommend this book! Be warned though, despite the giant text size this is not really a YA book. I'd read a chapter or two sample before getting it for a teen. Fellow 20 somethings, read this book and laugh your ass off and feel no shame!
August 6, 2022
*4.5
This was such a FUN read! Some parts were obviously cheesy but the storyline and characters were in for a blast. I loved the little enemies-to-lovers romance elements between the teachers, I thought that was so cute. Also the ‘bad teenager’ moments, (personally I was a good student, so it was fun reading these rebellious parts teehee). This was the perfect summer read, I definitely felt like I was watching a movie throughout reading the entire book.
This was such a FUN read! Some parts were obviously cheesy but the storyline and characters were in for a blast. I loved the little enemies-to-lovers romance elements between the teachers, I thought that was so cute. Also the ‘bad teenager’ moments, (personally I was a good student, so it was fun reading these rebellious parts teehee). This was the perfect summer read, I definitely felt like I was watching a movie throughout reading the entire book.
June 20, 2017
I am SOOO happy with this book. It's been a while since I've read a book I couldn't put down/actually enjoyed all the way through. The end got a little much but I don't even care, it was still super fun and just a good read for me. Such a great way to kick off the summer too. Would recommend to anyone who wants a YA feeling, very laid back not serious book. Definitely not for book snobs.
September 25, 2021
Every stereo type you can think of for high school students in one place. Fun at times. Reminiscent of the National Lampoon's class trip this story gets racy. I can see why people like it but it was just so so for me
Authors rarely make good narrators for their audiobooks. This is not an exception.
Authors rarely make good narrators for their audiobooks. This is not an exception.
September 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this book,it was about a sophomore class field trip to Washington DC,and all things that they do in the three days that they are there. it was also about a new relationship between the two teachers that were chaperoning The field trip.many truths are told and unexpected friendships are formed.
May 11, 2025
it’s a cringy teen drama, but it’s a good cringy teen drama if that’s what you’re in the mood for. definitely rolled my eyes sometimes but it’s a fun read
March 3, 2021
Loved this book. DC Trip had me seriously laughing out loud! Fast paced, funny as heck and sexy.
This book is rated R for strong language throughout, sexual content and teen alcohol and drug use.📖📖📖📖
This book is rated R for strong language throughout, sexual content and teen alcohol and drug use.📖📖📖📖
March 5, 2016
I bought this because I follow the author on Twitter.
I have bought several books because of twitter people. It has been, let me tell you, hit or miss.
I thought I would try this one out though I had the idea it wasn’t really my demographic. I thought it was YA (The author was nice enough to talk to me a bit on twitter after I had read it and disabused me of the notion that the book was YA – just because it was about teenagers mostly, it wasn’t necessarily YA).
The thing is that genre classifications here don’t really matter. It’s a good book, full stop. The story is some kids from Jersey go to DC and find themselves. It could be the recipe for formulaic emptiness, but of the four main characters of the book, they are deep and interesting and you care about their growth and development. You end up rooting for them. It is well paced to the point it feels a bit cinematic with a larger arc with some smaller embedded arcs. If it is not on its way to being a movie yet, it should be.
My only worry is that some of the secondary characters are a little flat. The love interests are one-dimensional, and the rivals of the central group of girls are a bit stereotypical, but the central characters are so strong so this both erases that to me (even if the secondary flatness is only visible because of direct comparison to these central characters – it’s a paradox). This is a definite recommendation on my part, even if you may not think it is your demographic, it is. The last time I really felt this way was 12 year ago, reading the great Julianna Baggott’s “Girl Talk” in its bright pink cover.
I have bought several books because of twitter people. It has been, let me tell you, hit or miss.
I thought I would try this one out though I had the idea it wasn’t really my demographic. I thought it was YA (The author was nice enough to talk to me a bit on twitter after I had read it and disabused me of the notion that the book was YA – just because it was about teenagers mostly, it wasn’t necessarily YA).
The thing is that genre classifications here don’t really matter. It’s a good book, full stop. The story is some kids from Jersey go to DC and find themselves. It could be the recipe for formulaic emptiness, but of the four main characters of the book, they are deep and interesting and you care about their growth and development. You end up rooting for them. It is well paced to the point it feels a bit cinematic with a larger arc with some smaller embedded arcs. If it is not on its way to being a movie yet, it should be.
My only worry is that some of the secondary characters are a little flat. The love interests are one-dimensional, and the rivals of the central group of girls are a bit stereotypical, but the central characters are so strong so this both erases that to me (even if the secondary flatness is only visible because of direct comparison to these central characters – it’s a paradox). This is a definite recommendation on my part, even if you may not think it is your demographic, it is. The last time I really felt this way was 12 year ago, reading the great Julianna Baggott’s “Girl Talk” in its bright pink cover.
September 3, 2016
I wanted a light, funny book from comic writer Sara Benincasa, and she delivered quite well. The book centers around a sophomore class trip to our nation's capitol. Benincasa focuses on three girls who have been friends dating back to nursery school, and a new-ish teacher who has the hots for the other teacher with whom she is chaperoning the trip.
The trip gives the book a natural structure, balancing sight seeing with shenanigans, with one of the girls, like her young teacher, harboring a big crush on a guy. Benincasa layers in other characters to provide antagonists and subplots. Her strengths our in creating likable characters who are quickly relatable, allowing for easy rooting interests, and, unsurprisingly, building up comic scenarios and make them pay off. I laughed a fair amount, which doesn't happen often when I read a novel.
There are times the exposition gets clunky, or the attempts to add some social relevance get a bit too clunky or on-the-nose. But these are minor quibbles. This was an addictive, quick read. I'd give it 3.75 stars, were I allowed to do so.
The trip gives the book a natural structure, balancing sight seeing with shenanigans, with one of the girls, like her young teacher, harboring a big crush on a guy. Benincasa layers in other characters to provide antagonists and subplots. Her strengths our in creating likable characters who are quickly relatable, allowing for easy rooting interests, and, unsurprisingly, building up comic scenarios and make them pay off. I laughed a fair amount, which doesn't happen often when I read a novel.
There are times the exposition gets clunky, or the attempts to add some social relevance get a bit too clunky or on-the-nose. But these are minor quibbles. This was an addictive, quick read. I'd give it 3.75 stars, were I allowed to do so.
February 29, 2016
This book was trashy in all the best ways. Not only were some of the incidences in this book far fetched and close to impossible, the author was very creative with her swear words. This, I did like. She encapsulated high school drama and high school antics in the best way, but I'm just wondering why this book wasn't a Young Adult novel. The writing was mainly aimed at younger readers (like the 18-25/29 range), and so was the subject matter. I do not know why this book was ranked so low. The situations in this book were funny, but I suggest taking this book with a grain of salt.
I highly doubt that teachers would let students sneak out. Teachers probably wouldn't even abandon their posts for that long. A lot of the incidents could have been prohibited and in some parts it was just hokey. Especially in the end. I'll let you read it to find out what it was.
I highly doubt that teachers would let students sneak out. Teachers probably wouldn't even abandon their posts for that long. A lot of the incidents could have been prohibited and in some parts it was just hokey. Especially in the end. I'll let you read it to find out what it was.
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